Unisex name · Irish Gaelic
Reagan
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: little kingReagan is a gender-neutral name that comes from Irish Gaelic and means "little king". It is used in English and Irish.
- Meaning
- Little king
- Origin
- Irish Gaelic
- Gender
- Unisex
- US rank
- #248 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Reagan
As a gender-neutral name, Reagan comes from Irish Gaelic and means "little king". It is used in English and Irish.
In Irish, say RAY-gan. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Reagan is also a surname: the 2,331st most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 15,210 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Reagan on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Reagan on 2 lists.
“From Ó Riagáin; Riagán means little king. More often a girls' name in the US. Say RAY-gan.”
From Irish boy names, irish surnames used as boy names
“From Ó Riagáin; Riagán probably means little king. Say RAY-gan.”
From Irish girl names, irish place and word names for girls
How popular is Reagan?
In 2025, 1,244 girls and 98 boys in the US were named Reagan.
As a girl’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #248
- 1,244 babies, 774 per million girls
- Best rank
- #97 in 2012
- Most babies: 3,097 in 2016
- Babies since 1956
- At least 65,739
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 6 per million |
| 1970s | 57 per million |
| 1980s | 45 per million |
| 1990s | 237 per million |
| 2000s | 1,081 per million |
| 2010s | 1,649 per million |
| 2020s | 1,117 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #98 | #98 | #107 | #102 | #114 | #126 | #147 | #168 | #244 | #248 |
As a boy’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #1,687
- 98 babies, 57 per million boys
- Best rank
- #596 in 2004
- 366 babies that year
- Babies since 1913
- At least 7,841
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 6 per million |
| 1920s | 4 per million |
| 1930s | 4 per million |
| 1940s | 9 per million |
| 1950s | 10 per million |
| 1960s | 12 per million |
| 1970s | 23 per million |
| 1980s | 21 per million |
| 1990s | 55 per million |
| 2000s | 121 per million |
| 2010s | 112 per million |
| 2020s | 77 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,004 | #973 | #1,021 | #1,050 | #1,198 | #1,186 | #1,306 | #1,535 | #1,580 | #1,687 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Reagan
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- RíoghánLittle king (Irish Gaelic, boy)
Names spelled like Reagan
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- RaananFresh, invigorating (Hebrew, boy)
- RagaaHope (Arabic, girl)
- RagabRespect, awe (Arabic, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- RoryRed king (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AbdulmalikServant of the King (Arabic, boy)
- AdaezePrincess, king's daughter (Igbo, girl)
- BaltasarBel protect the king (Akkadian, boy)
- BedwyrWelsh form of Bedivere, a knight of King Arthur (Welsh, boy)
- EmyrKing, lord (Welsh, boy)
- FlaithríKing of princes (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- GökhanKing of the sky (Turkish, boy)
- GolshahFlower of the king (Persian, girl)
- KağanKing, ruler (Turkish, boy)
- KingsleyKing's wood (Old English, boy)
- KingstonKing's town (Old English, boy)
- LeroyThe king (Old French, boy)
- MalikKing, sovereign (Arabic, boy)
- NareshLord of men, a king (Sanskrit, boy)
Middle names for Reagan
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More names from Irish Gaelic
- OscarPossibly deer friend (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- FinnFair, white (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- FergusMan of vigor (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- KevinGentle birth (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- RonanLittle seal (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AidanLittle fire (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AidenLittle fire (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AodhFire, flame (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AydenVariant of Aidan, little fire (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- BarryFair-haired (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- BrendanA prince (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- BridgetExalted one (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- BridieExalted one (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- BrigitteExalted one (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- CaseyVigilant, watchful (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- CassidyCurly-haired (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- CodyDescendant of the helpful one (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- ConanLittle hound or little wolf (Irish Gaelic, boy)
Reagan: common questions
What does the name Reagan mean?
Reagan comes from Irish Gaelic and means "little king".
Is Reagan a boy or girl name?
Reagan is used for both boys and girls. In 2025, 1,244 girls and 98 boys in the US were named Reagan, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Reagan come from?
Reagan comes from Irish Gaelic and means "little king". Today it is used in English and Irish.
How popular is the name Reagan?
Reagan ranked #248 in the US in 2025, with 1,244 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Reagan?
Forms of Reagan with the same meaning and origin include Ríoghán (Irish).
What middle names go with Reagan?
Middle names that flow well with Reagan include Agnes, Ansel, Ethan, Gemma and Hope. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.